I fear the languages in my head…

Novelty singer Yoyoy Villame passes away   

By Julie      M. Aurelio
Inquirer

Posted date: May 18, 2007

Dr Joel Santos, who
worked the morning shift, administered cardio-pulmonary resuscitation
on Villame shortly after he was helped into the hospital’s emergency
room around 9 a.m. He was pronounced dead due to cardio-pulmonary
arrest.

Born in 1938, Villame was a former jeepney (minibus) and
bus driver from the island province of Bohol and is best known for his
comedic antics, as well as his Tagalog and Visayan novelty songs.

One of his songs, the popular “Mag-exercise Tayo,” hit the charts in 1977. He also composed the cutesy tongue twister "Butse Kik."

His first recording entitled Magellan (1972),
“was the beginning of a long span of albums and recordings of Yoyoy’s
humorous yet politically relevant songs in Visayan, Tagalog and English
that was uniquely his own style,” said the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong
Mang-aawit in its Online Registry of Filipino Musical Artists.

Dubbed "The Novelty King," Villame recorded more than 40 albums in his career as a singer.

He
also starred in several movies during the 1970s, including "Biktima"
and "Limasawa". Villame last starred in the critically-acclaimed movie
"Ang Babae sa Breakwater."

His nephew, Bernard Villame, recalled his uncle as a very generous fellow who helped him and his children in dire times.

"He gave Jeffrey, one of my sons, a tricycle because my son worked for him as a driver," Bernard said.

His
nephew also used to work on Villame’s staff when he was still a city
councilor. "Every time I needed assistance, he gave it," Bernard said
in Filipino.

Villame was a former councilor of Las Piñas City,
having been elected in 1988. His nephew, Bernard Villame, said his
uncle served for 10 years as councilor. He ran in 1995 as vice mayor
but lost.

"He planned to ran again as councilor this year, but he
backed out," Bernard told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, parent company
of INQUIRER.net.

Bernard said his uncle was a funny man even
off-stage. During parties, he would sing and poke fun at himself — "up
to the point of making visitors pee in their pants from laughter."

At the time of his death, Villame lived at the Doña Josefa Subdivision in Pilar Village, Las Piñas City.

He is survived by his children Hannah, who is also a singer; Apple, Olivia, Roman Jr., Lillian and John.

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